What teachers demanded from Ruto at State House

The talks brought together leaders of teachers’ unions and school heads’ associations, who pressed the government to also address mounting debts.

Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) Chairperson Fuad Ali called for the immediate increase of capitation from the current Free Primary Education (FPE) allocation of Sh1,420 per student to Sh2,300 to meet the growing demands of learners.

He argued that schools are struggling to provide even the most basic resources.

“We propose a target [capitation] of Sh2,300. This increase is necessary to ensure that schools can adequately provide for the basic needs of learners, including teaching and learning materials, infrastructure maintenance, and nutritional support where required. With more resources, schools will be better positioned to improve quality education, enhance student performance, and reduce the financial burden on parents,” he said.

Mr Ali also called for better terms of service for head teachers. One of his demands was an upward review of their employee level to at least Job Group D1, pointing out that many had stagnated in lower grades despite shouldering heavy responsibilities.

Secondary school teachers also had a raft of complaints, some of which were raised by the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha). The association’s chairman, Mr Willie Kuria, called for an increase in capitation, noting that the current capitation model, last reviewed in 2018, had been overtaken by inflation and the rising cost of education.

The secondary heads emphasised that this increment is not a luxury, but a necessity.

“Capitation should be realistic and in touch with the economic climate. Right now, schools are being asked to perform miracles with money that is not enough to even cover the basics. Since 2017, schools have not received the full amount that is allocated in government budgets. On paper, the allocations look promising, but in reality, what reaches schools is far less. This is why many institutions are struggling to pay bills, feed students, and provide quality education,” Mr Kuria said.

The school heads also took issue with deductions from the capitation funds, which they said drain money meant for tuition and operations. According to Kessha, once the deductions are factored in, many schools are left with unsustainable amounts.

On teacher welfare, the association said career stagnation was demoralising thousands of teachers across the country. They proposed a “Marshall Plan for Teachers” to specifically address the problem.

“Today, we have an estimated 500,000 teachers who have remained in the same job group for more than five years. Some have been in the same grade for decades. These are men and women who dedicate their lives to teaching and shaping generations, but are left feeling stuck because there is no upward mobility,” Kessha’s memorandum read.

Kessha also faulted the current Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), which require teachers to spend a minimum of three years in a job group before being considered for an interview.

School heads said the guidelines are a disadvantage for older recruits who may retire before they get the opportunity to climb the career ladder.

“It is unfair to employ a teacher in their forties or fifties, then tell them that by the time they qualify for higher grades, they will already be at the retirement age. Promotions should be aligned with other professions. If you are a graduate teacher or have a doctoral qualification, you should have an equal opportunity for advancement just like in medicine, law, or engineering. Otherwise, we will continue to lose talented professionals who feel unappreciated,” Mr Kuria said.

Another issue raised by the association was the growing debt burden in schools. Many institutions, particularly boarding schools, have been forced to take goods on credit due to delays in government funding. As a result, they now owe millions of shillings to suppliers.

“Schools are drowning in debt. We owe food suppliers, textbook distributors, and utility companies. In some boarding schools, the suppliers have even stopped delivering food because the debts are too high. Imagine being a head teacher in such a situation—you have children who need to be fed and taught, but no resources to do so. We are appealing to the government to urgently intervene and offset these debts. Otherwise, day-to-day operations will grind to a halt,” the Kessha chairperson warned.

The teachers added that indebtedness has left them constantly firefighting with creditors instead of focusing on managing schools. They warned that if the government does not step in, many institutions could collapse under the weight of unpaid bills.

Kessha also drew attention to the plight of small schools with fewer than 100 learners. Under the current per-student funding formula, such schools receive very little money, often too little to sustain even basic services.

“These institutions are left barely surviving. We propose that before per-student allocations are calculated, every school should be given a minimum package to ensure viability. This will not only make them functional but also reduce wastage within the education system,” Mr Kuria explained.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) placed heavy emphasis on the recognition of head teachers managing junior secondary schools domiciled in primary schools.

According to the union, these school heads are currently in a state of limbo — neither formally principals nor adequately remunerated despite managing full-fledged comprehensive institutions. Many of them, the union argued, hold advanced academic qualifications such as master’s and doctorate degrees, which warrant both recognition and promotion.

Knut argued that promotions to higher grades such as C4 or C5 should not automatically force teachers into deputy head teacher positions or compel transfers.

“Promotion should be based on merit and service, not rigid structures that disrupt lives just before retirement,” said Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu.

Another major demand relates to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in July after months of push-and-pull with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Teachers now want the cycle of CBAs reduced from four to two years, arguing that the economic realities of inflation and the rising cost of living cannot wait for long cycles.

They proposed two years for CBAs and two terms for presidential review, citing global labour practices under the guidance of the International Labour Organisation.

The union also stressed that the expansion of junior secondary into primary schools had stretched head teachers’ responsibilities.

“Some of our members are performing duties at D1 level without the corresponding benefits. Work must match pay,” said Mr Oyuu.

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) also took issue with the Career Progression Guideline, which they said tie promotions to rigid transfers and appointments, often forcing teachers to relocate to far-flung regions late in their careers.

Responding to the teachers’ grievances, President Ruto promised reforms across several areas.

On promotions, he admitted that many teachers had stagnated for decades. He noted that the government has been spending Sh1 billion annually since 2023, promoting about 25,000 teachers each year, with 151,000 benefiting.

However, he said, this was too slow for a workforce of nearly 500,000. He promised to double the allocation to Sh2 billion to fast-track 50,000 promotions annually. He also directed an immediate review of the Career Progression Guidelines.

On employment, Ruto unveiled a “pass-out, pass-in” model to prioritise long-waiting graduates, with special focus on teachers above 45 years and those trained for primary schools.

The President also ordered a review of the teachers’ medical scheme, citing disparities with civil servants. “This must be corrected immediately,” he said.

On funding, he acknowledged delays caused by the mismatch between the government’s fiscal year and the school calendar, directing harmonisation by December. He also promised to fast-track the Kenya Education Management Information System to weed out ghost learners and free up funds.

Dr Ruto further noted progress in retirement reforms, saying National Social Security Fund pay-outs are now processed within 10 days, with a target of reducing this to a single day. He added that equal contributions from government and employees would boost retirement benefits.

The meeting was also an opportunity for Dr Ruto to sign an agreement between teachers’ unions and the Affordable Housing Board.

Describing it as a “landmark” memorandum of understanding, Dr Ruto said in a social media post that it would redefine property ownership for teachers.

“This agreement guarantees that 20 percent of all affordable housing units will be allocated to teachers, a step towards ensuring that those who dedicate their lives to shaping our nation’s future have access to decent homes,” posted the President.

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